Just a few weeks ago, Volkswagen of America's state-of-the-art plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, cranked out its 10,000th Passat -- a Candy White TDI wearing a premium chrome package. Not bad for a facility that opened just five months earlier. Volkswagen is charging ahead with its goal of building 100,000 vehicles a year at Chattanooga starting next year, and the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat is key to hitting that target. In September alone, more than 3000 customers took home one of VW's Chattanoogian chariots.

Part of the 2012 Passat's success no doubt has to do with the variety of models and trims available for the big VW sedan. There are three engine choices -- a 170-horse 2.5-liter inline-five, 280-horse 3.6-liter V-6, and a 140-horse 2.0-liter turbo four-banger -- available in a total of 14 trims. We recently had a chance to sample three combinations: a 2.5L S, 3.6 SEL, and TDI SE.

No matter the trim or mill, the Passat's sheetmetal stays basically the same. Its lines are simple, clean, and inoffensive, yet modern. A few staffers labeled it boring, but then noted the Passat and its competition in the family-friendly sedan segment aren't exactly known for avant-garde styling. Overall, we consider the styling a step in the right direction, especially with the LED touches and available 17-inch alloys.

Dimensionally, the car looks large at 191.6 inches long and 72.2 inches wide, yet it doesn't feel unwieldy when shuffling through traffic. It's within a few inches of its Audi A6 cousin, and nearly as comfortable -- just don't tell Ingolstadt. It bests the A6 in most interior measurements, but not in fancy accoutrements. The new Passat's cabin, with its to-the-point dash/center console/storage layout and simplistic multimedia interface, isn't ugly, uncomfortable, or confusing -- it's just as plain and simple as its body panels.

The standard equipment list gives buyers plenty to work with: a six-speed manual (or automatic transmission), auto dual-climate control, power locks and windows, color-matched mirrors and door handles, Bluetooth, and electronically adjustable driver seat are all included. Sadly, an iPod interface isn't. You'll have to upgrade to the 2.5L SE manual to get 17-inch wheels, heated leatherette front seats, and a touch-screen Premium VIII radio. Continue up the SE and SEL trim chain in either V-6 or TDI models to get more goodies like a navigation system with Mobile Device Interface, Fender sound system, wood grain, and chrome accents or aluminum accents.

My sampling of the Passat portfolio began rather sluggishly. That's just how it goes when you're strapped into the 2.5L S equipped with a six-speed automatic gearbox - unless, of course, the throttle is mashed to its limit, or you weigh 15 pounds. It's one of those cars whose powertrain won't outperform its responsive chassis. As solid as the Passat's stout structure, suspension, and weighty steering may be, the underpowered mill and its slow-to-respond transmission hold this particular base model back when it comes to the fun factor.

Throttle laid flat, the 2.5L gets to 60 mph from nil in 9 seconds, while a quarter-mile is cleared in 16.8 seconds at 83.8 mph. Braking the roughly 3200-pound sedan from 60 mph necessitates 130 feet of pavement. Good thing its taut ride and controllable handling are above par for such a sedan.Average consumers are likely to lug friends, kids, or coworkers in this model, not carve unused back roads like my colleagues and I do. The 2.5 SE offers enough power to get from Point A to B, and that's probably good enough. Its pipes may not omit an attractive note, but at the end of the day, it returns a competitive 22/31 city/highway EPA fuel economy rating .

Prospective Passat buyers have to throw down nearly $6000 extra for the SEL V6 to get a powertrain worthy of its athletically inclined chassis. Compared to the 2.5L S, the SEL V6 feels as if it runs on pure taurine. The initial throttle response can be abrupt, but with gradual input the six-speed dual-clutch DSG orchestrates a smoother power delivery as it knocks off cogs in fractions of seconds. Watching the tachometer bounce wildly is fun to do in the Passat - you don't expect it in this kind of sedan.As you can imagine, with 110 more horses and 81 more lb-ft than the base mill, the VR6-packing Passat is a lot more entertaining. That extra power helps out if you're more of a passer than a cruiser. Its sharp turn-in impresses, as does the palatable chassis communication. Its brakes bite harder as well. Relatively speaking, the Passat V6 is the rocket of the lineup: Going from nothing to 60 mph is a 5.7-second affair; it tackles a quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds at 100.9 mph and needs 119 feet to stop from 60 mph.

Sliding between the 2.5L and V6 SEL in terms of price and performance is the fuel-miser TDI SE. Contrary to a lot of other diesel-fueled rides, the TDI lacks the delicious push of low-rpm torque we love. It feels as potent as the asthmatic 2.5L that's down 59 lb-ft -- the extra 198 pounds it carries have something to do with that.

Real oomph from the Passat TDI only arrives when the tach needle dances high on its relatively small stage (it redlines at a paltry 5000 rpm). Just a few fans of the left steering wheel paddle are enough to spur adequate velocities. You'll need 8.7 seconds to get it up to 60 mph, and 16.6 seconds at 83.1 mph to get it past the quarter-mile post. The TDI does, however, possess the best steering feel of the trio -- it's communicative throughout a rotation, rather than just off-center as in both the V6 and 2.5L. Braking is in a middle ground between the 2.5 and VR6 at 124 feet from 60 mph.Despite it not being an enthralling choice for impassioned enthusiasts, the TDI is arguably the best pick for the sedan buyer looking for decent sportiness, great comfort, massive space, and awesome fuel economy and range. The last trait rocked our proverbial socks: We went at least 450 miles between fill-ups. And we weren't friendly with the go-pedal, either.Three Passats aimed at three different buyers. Together they comprise one solid lineup that is already throwing some hard blows in one of America's hugely important midsize sedan market. Do Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Subaru, and the rest of the lot have something to worry about? Yes, they do. And if Volkswagen's optimistic sales plans come to fruition, you'll soon be seeing a lot more Tennessee-built Passats strolling through your neck of the woods.

I just test drove a 2013 2.5SE yesterday. On my way to the dealership, ready to buy, extra clean, 32,000 miles. Got in the car, felt great....then I hit the gas pedal....where the heck is the motor? This thing crawled off the line. I saw almost 0 acceleration for about 2 to 3 seconds. My god this thing was sluggish...I was so disappointed, Liked everything else about the car. Ive had two saab's in my life, one a saab 9000...and a 9-3. The 9,000 was a little slow off the line but was AWESOME once up to speed...could pass almost anything once between 50 and 75 MPH...so I get the initial lag...but this was terrible. Did I test drive a clunker or is this just how the car behaves?

I work at Boucher VW of Racine...and I'm just making the statement of TDI passat getting 40mpg highway... LOL that's a joke.... try like 65mpg highway... I do dealer trades regularly at Boucher Volkswagen and drive TDI Jetta and passats all the time...40mpg sounds more like a TDI in the city...not highway...only reason TDI window tag says 40 highway is bc government testing in Germany is a lot different than real life driving

I've owned VWs all my life and I still drive my 1999 Passat V6. Just bought the 2012 Passat SE V6 and I love it. Honda Accords are a dime a dozen, ya there reliable and have good resale value and every one and their mother is driving one. VW drivers are a specail breed. You either like VW or you don't and if you don't I don't care go buy a Honda.

I just took my '12 Passat TDI SEL Premium in for it's 5,000 mile courtesy service.Problems? The touchpad radio/nav controls seem a bit slow. Nothing else.Average fuel economy over those 5,000 miles? 41.3mpg. Thats the average of all driving conditions. My wife drives the car daily to work; a 52 mile one way commute. Through Atlanta traffic. Our '10 Jetta TDI only averaged 37.8.Comfort? Love it. Quality? Excellent. Power? Not a ton of it, but the car never feels like it's working hard.Would I have considered another car? Yes. We seriously considered BMW because of the diesel engine. Too much money for a smaller car. No good choice with Audi. (wanted a sedan, not and SUV) Too bad the US and Asian automakers can't seem to bring themselves to move into the 21st century and offer diesel cars. Then again, great for VW!On a scale of one to 10, I give this car a solid 9.Overall, both my wife and I love it!Good job VW!

I have owned VW's since 1980from a Rabbit Diesel, Jetta Turbo Diesel, Passat TDI,Corrado G60, Jetta TDI SportWagon. Between all of these vehicles I have racked up over 1 million miles. The latter 3 are still in operation. I have never experienced any quality or reliability issues with any of my VW's. My Parents have also owned 2 VW Jetta TDI Wagons one which they still own and they have never had any issues.

BTW, Toyota just added what they call "Smart Stop" technology to their cars-- basically a brake override system to keep their cars from running away from their owners. VW has had that system on its cars since about 1997.

Its delusional to say this car wont have an impact on camry or accord sales. The Fusion, Malibu and Sonata have ALL had an effect on the sales of those two cars- they were losing share before the quake. Camry share of the segment is probably at the lowest level in 5+ years. Die hard Toyota fans wont look at the Passat or anything else. But this car will entice free agents or folks who arent committed to Toyota or Honda. The Camry is new, but it comes at a time when two other midsize sedans are being replaced and at least one more is coming before 2013.

I can answer that. A remote entry keyfob isn't available on the base Camry. It's standard on the base Passat. Automatic AC is an option on the Camry. It's standard on the Passat (Climatronic). 3rd generation ESP isn't available on the Camry-- at any trim level. It's standard on the Passat. The Passat has a crash response system that kicks in after an accident. The Camry does not. The Camry uses recycled steel. The Passat uses virgin steel-- less susceptible to rust. Also, the Camry uses very little high strength boron steel in its body. The Passat has one of the highest percentages. The Camry uses an older, less effective method of rustproofing. The Passat uses one of the most modern methods of rustproofing in the industry. And, comparably equipped, the Passat is about 2K less than the Camry. The perception that VW is behind the curve is laughable.

I'm a long time VW owner, and overall, I like VW as a company. I'm also a big fan of diesel. It is a logical choice, not just for sedans, but also for SUVs, like the Tiguan.The problem I see with the new Passat, is that it is not as stylish as the CC, which is about the best looking mid-size (non-luxury brand) sedan on the market in the US. I think it is great that VW has a plant in the US again, and I hope they expand that facility in the future. Perhaps a diesel engine plant could be added.Most 4-door sedans in the US all look very similar. Styling in general is very conservative, certainly more so than in Europe. That is part of the reason why the Camry and Accord sell so well in the US. If I were in the market for a sedan, I would test drive the Passat TDI, but realistically, I would choose a hatchback, perhaps Golf, GTI, or Tiguan.

VRsicks, what are the options/standard equipment that is more technological than that on the camry? Is that a fact or are you just stating an opinion, because those are very different things.Also for those of you who say the quality is better, you are crazy. I have been in VWs and the headliner is usually coming off or the material from the doors is loose. So if you say the quality is better, show me.

Comparing to a Camry? BD, there is no comparison. I know people from both sides who wouldn't be caught dead in the other team's car. I, personally, hate the Camry. I would sacrifice a couple of MPG's for a more comfortable, technologically advanced vehicle (Passat) than drive an appliance on wheels (Camry). You can spit out numbers and figures all day long, but it won't covert anyone who is sick of the boring Camry.

BD:A toyota spokespoerson at a camry launch event said the hybrids were coming after the regular sedans. Search for Autonetwork on youtube and watch the video on the 2012 camry that was shot in North Carolina at a press event.

pmirp1:Ah, if only we could harness misinformation as a fuel we'd solve the energy crisis. "Irrelevant diesel?" Did you know that over 50% of the cars sold in Europe are diesel? How can anything that allows you to almost double your fuel economy while avoiding the additional costs associated with hybrids be called "irrelevant?" Not to mention that research and investment in synthetic diesel is at an all time high."Old style" V6? In what way is this engine "old style?""Push yesteryear technology on Americans?" Do you realize that much of the technology pioneered by VW in the TDI, like direct injection and piezo electric ignition, is only now making its way into American cars and trucks? Did you know that ESP, the electronic stability program, in this Passat is in its 3rd generation, while most manufacturers are still only offering a first generation system? It goes on and on. The truth is, this car is MORE advanced than most of the cars it competes against.

"BlackDynamite:"Pull your head out of your a**. Plenty of people care about this car. That's why VW sales are up 14% in September, and they've already sold 3000 Passats when it's only been in some dealerships less than 2 weeks.In case you didn't know, all hybrids tend to get better city MPG than highway . . . but thanks for the selective use of numbers. Are you on the Toyota payroll??? The Camry gets 43 MPG city, which is 12-- not 13-- more than the Passat TDI's 31 city. But the TDI gets 4 MPG better on the highway, and in the real world it gets way better than that. People are getting 52 and above in their TDIs on the highway.Not only that, but the Passat has better styling, better build quality, more interior room, more comfortable seats, better safety, and handles better than a Camry. And, even better-- it stops.

This is a beautiful car. It's good looking, it's got great interior room, the seats are comfortable, it has excellent build quality, it handles well, it has a good IIHS safety rating, and it's priced right. What's not to like?

The VR6 is a let down... Just drop the Golf R 2.0T in and be just as fast with better MPG and less weight. The whole car is pretty much a let down...still better than the Jetta though. Sad thing is VW knows how to build a fast, fun hybrid better than almost anyone... Just look at the Touareg Hybrid... when will they bring that experience to the rest of the line up? VW engines are lagging behind...and this is coming from a VW guy.

Ok, so I don't care for this sedan. I liked the previous generation more because of its styling, along with the wagon variant, with 4Motion. What I don't understand is that the base engine of the previous Passat was the 2.0 Turbo which was a very competitive engine, with 200 horsepower. So why not carry over that engine, and make that the base as well instead of that anemic 2.5L five cylinder? And the TDI needs to be a bit larger to go with a larger car.

Hmmm,I had a 1967 Oldsmobile 442 that I loved to death!It ran the 1/4 in pure stock trim with numbers about the same as the Passat V6. With front and rear anti-sway bars, it handled very well for its time.But, it got about 1/2 the mpg ... on premium fuel.While I'd like to have that Olds back, the Passat V6 is mighty tempting. Even more attractive is I wouldn't have to carry along a boat anchor - the Old's brakes were worthless above 100.Jawohl !!!

I rented a Ford Galaxy this summer. As best as I could translate the owner's manual (German), it was powered by a 2.0 VW turbodiesel.It's similar to the upcoming C-Max. The Galaxy IS a small minivan that seats five in comfort plus luggage room.It didn't smell AT ALL like diesels used to smell.Germans have not been brainwashed by their oil companies ... diesel costs LESS than gasoline there.I drove it in gears 1 - 3 down narrow cobblestone streets and in gear 6 at about 70 mph on the Autobahn. Yes, did run it up to 100 mph until the wind and tire noise was drowned out by my Lady's screams.And got an overall average of 35 mpg.While not very sporty, if a few thousand of them replaced gas minivans on our roads MILLIONS of gallons of fuel would be saved EVERY WEEK.Can't very well do that because the sturdy engine and transmission would last years longer than anything currently marketed here.My Ford dealer enthusiastically recommended the Edge instead. EPA 19/27 ... 19 the way I drove ...

Dynamite - This states they tested the V6 SEL VW @ 5.7 secs 0-60.IMO the Front End reminds me a lot of my old 92' Passat.The headlight cluster and grill needs work. How about a little visual flash for one of their "14" variations.

The author, Nate Martinez, says it's not unwieldy. I would hope not. It's a mid-sized, and small at that compared to previous mid-sized cars. Seems roomy enough inside. I guess the 5 cylinder is just a big inadequate if you really like performance but I credit VW for bringing the price down to compete with other mid-sized sedate family sedans like the Camry and Accord. Nate, if you think this car is big, check out American mid-sized cars of the past that were sometimes two-three feet longer than this one.

I don't know why people are worried about the city MPG of the diesel with the Passat. Diesels are usually better for long highway cruises and hybrids are better for stop and go use. This is not something that is going to change anytime soon. I would be shocked if a Camry Hybrid was even in the same ballpark as a Passat TDI MPG on a 1,000 mile drive.

... And people say the Accord and Camry look bad. This car looks like a brick on wheels. I hate looking at it! I miss the old passat! Bad form VW, bad form indeed. As far as reliability and drivability, I'm sure it will be like always. Fun, fast, and in the shop often. No thanks!

Has anyone noticed how high these cars sticker when loaded? A friend of mine just took delivery of a loaded 2012 Passat, with every option except nav. His cost was about $1500 shy of the Genesis entry... if it were my money, I would have spent the $1500 and got myself into a well-equipped Genesis sedan.

BD:Camry hybrid wont even be available at launch, its still 3 months out at least. That said, not everyone will want the camry hybrid. The MPGs are great, but its still a camry which means it looks dull and handles in a mediocre manner. Passat is larger, likely handles better, has better highway range and is available NOW. YOU are only concerned about the camry, my point was that the passat beats Altima, Accord and Malibu in mileage by a decent margin and that will appeal to some folks. You should note VWs other diesels are selling pretty well- in spite of the fact that people could chose a Prius or Insight over those cars. The problem for this car is the 2.5L engine, not the diesel.

5.7 0-60 is smoking. I think VW will see some nice sales improvement. I also think the move to TN production will help build quality in the long run. I am unconvinced (and I own a VW) that VW has the reliability kinks worked out. Also, as others mentioned, the 2.5L is underwhelming in this class even though performance is on par with the segment. Don't get me wrong, the 2.5L is fine, but it just doesn't measure up to the better I4s out there. To be class competitive, you need 180ish horsepower and around 35 MPG highway with the new generations of vehicles coming quickly. If anything, I was surprised at how MT berated the Shiftronic 6-speed. The shiftronic is one of the best AT's with a torque converter I've experienced. It can have quick shifts if in Sport mode or if you mash the accelerator or it gives smooth shifts and keeps the engine in it's power band without letting the revs on I5 get too high. That's saying something considering VW's I5 is not a very good or sophisticated engine.

Performance in the 6 cylinder is pretty awesome. I think it bests the Camry 6 cyl. now. Not a huge fan of the styling, but it will look better in person I am sure. Just guessing, but I bet the TDI mpg ratings will prove conservative.

syjBuyers might notice that it gets THIRTEEN fewer miles per gallon in the city than a Camry Hybrid. That's 6 MPG lower combined! And it's 1.5 seconds slower to 60. Things consumers might notice after awhile......And there is plenty of competition waiting to move it to it's rightful place at the bottom of the pack, from merely mediocre todayWhy do you care so much about this car anyway? Nobody else does.BD

@BD:Passat gets better hwy mileage than all the cars you mentioned except the Sonata hybrid. And the Accord is the #2 selling car in this class which is why I mentioned it. The Altima is way up the list as well and it too currently lacks a hybrid model. Even when it had one it was only sold in a few states. So the point is the Passat TDI is more efficient than a host of current midsize sedans as well as the Malibu ECO coming early 2012. Oh and the Sonata hybrid is so ugly that I couldnt buy it no matter how efficient.

I don't understand why the extra cost of diesel isn't factored into fuel economy discussions. It is 20% higher in my area, and when you consider that the TDI is $3100 more than the 2.5, it is as if that extra $3100 is only buying you 4 more mpg. It would take a long time to make that pay off.

The TDI is the choice of my family. Going based soley on what the EPA estimates is rather stupid with Volkswagen vehicles because they are, more often than not, wrong. The VW TDI owners on the forums typically pull down 6-10 mpg more on the highway than what the EPA states. One guy sets the cruise at 75 mph and gets 52 mpg.My 2006 Jetta has the 6A with the 2.5L engine. The EPA estimates 22/29 mpg with this combo. At 80 mph, it gets 33 mpg.It is safe to assume that for most owners of the car, the TDI could get as much as 47 mpg highway which translates to 800 miles or more of usable range. The VR6 version could get as much as 32 mpg highway and the 2.5 could get 36 highway. Owners do not tend to be the all out, pedal to the floor type of drivers MT is when testing the car for a day.

I can't understand why people hate this car just to hate. If you don't want the car go get your malibu, acoord sonata or whatever. This car is very much competitive. It gets the basics down just fine. I feel if you want a exciting car you go get coupe of some sort or a performance sedan. This is a basic transportation not a cts V just as the optima is a basic piece of transportation .

The Passat1. As Car & Driver said, the ONLY version worth looking into is the V6. Fast, posh, roomy, good performer. But will it still be worth a damn after every other sedan in the class gets redesigned over the next year? Several cars are coming to steal it's thunder2. Since when is 22/31 "competitive" EPA out of a midsize 4-banger. Camry and Sonata are WAY ahead of that, and everyone else will pass that by next summer, while many have ALREADY. Plus 9 seconds is bottom-feeder material.3. 8.7 out of the TDi and 30MPG city are both inferior. Pretty disappointing, really.....4. And we haven't even gotten to the crap-tastic reputation for quality or it's anti-styling.....BD